Have you had that nasty cough and sore throat that hangs on and on? You might try some MULLEIN, an herb that actually grows naturally in my local area of Southeast Arizona on Mt. Graham.

Mullein is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years and the whole plant is used: the leaves, flowers and roots. You’ll find it common in the United States. It flowers in July and August and will often be found growing by banks, roadsides in gravel or sandy soil. Native Americans used this plant and many parts of Europe used this plant traditionally. It is considered one of the top herbal plants in Ireland. Click here to learn more.

You can make a mullein tea and it is wonderfully soothing for coughs and sore throats. Just take 1 rounded tsp of the dried herb and steep with boiled water for about 5 minutes. Drink as is or for even more healing benefits add raw local honey which is often used for cough syrups.

Mullein tea without the honey (make a stronger batch) can used topically. Just soak a natural fiber cloth in the strong tea and wrap areas affected with a wound or by gout, bursitis, bruises, achy joints and more. You can also mash and bruise fresh mullein leaves and flowers and apply a poultice. It has great anti-inflammatory properties and acts as an antiseptic. Use the mullein tea as a rinse on the head for dandruff. You can also apply mullein extract to the scalp.

Some people will soak mullein in olive oil for 3 weeks and then strain. The oil can be used as a chest rub and applied to bruised skin - it is even a great topical application for hemorrhoids. Try it over areas experiencing gout. Rub this mullein oil around the ears for infection. It is beneficial for your dog’s ear infection as well.

People have used mullein to treat dry skin. Use the mullein oil topically. Add some dried and ground herb to coconut oil and let sit for a couple of days then rub into the dry skin for an easy preparation and natural moisturizer.

Mullein is also used in capsule form and is found by itself or in many different combinations with other herbs. It is considered an herb for acute respiratory and other illnesses and a tonic for the endocrine system in supporting the thyroid and reducing cortisol levels in the body which can help restore the natural sleep rhythms of the body.

If you are wild harvesting, please make sure to learn all you can to get the right plant and proper preparation. You may want to lightly scrub the hairs of the plant leaves as they can be irritating to some. Remember don’t take all you find in nature – leave some for the next person and for nature.

For us when we catch a cough or sore throat, I brew up large pots of herbal tea with mullein, usually comfrey, marshmallow root, catnip, peppermint and red raspberry leaf. Sometimes I'll add fresh ginger root to the mix but you can use dried ginger root as well. You don't have to use all those herbs, just mullein will work great on its own. I add honey and keep everyone drinking. It helps hydrate by keep fluids in the system and helps speed up healing.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. If you feel this information is valuable, please pass it along. As always we appreciate you supporting our business.

The stomach flu is not really the flu but is gastroenteritis and can be cause by a virus, bacteria, or parasite. You may experience: stomach ache, nausea, abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever and swollen lymph glands. A complication that can occur and you want to guard against is dehydration.

Food sensitivities can also mimic the symptoms of gastroenteritis caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasite. And we will talk about food sensitivities in another article. However many of these remedies can give relief especially the slipper elm mentioned.

A good list of general recommendations of when to call your doctor can be found at WebMd. Please check with your doctor before trying alternative remedies.

Here are remedies that have been around a long time and have worked for our family. All the information provided is of historical nature and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies. You should always seek advise of a health care physician or medical doctor.

Watch against dehydration. Even if there is vomiting, you still want to make sure they get liquids. Often people will tell you that you should drink a clear soda. But nothing could be further from the truth. The added sugar to the diet drops the effectiveness of the immune system. Avoid sugar as much as possible, and especially when sick.

There are many fun and healthy ways to get liquid into your kids and 'big kids' / adults when feeling sick. When the person is vomiting they may not want to drink anything. But they really need to attempt to get fluids in. I have found for me the best thing to do is drink distilled water when sick and especially with the stomach flu. Dr. Christopher advocated distilled water as a hungry water. I have seen people sick, drink distilled water and feel much better. By the way he makes wonderful herbal remedies and we carry his full line products. So keep offering water. You can also offer ice chips or crushed ice. Be careful with small children that ice is appropriate for them.

Another great idea is to blend up fresh fruit like watermelon and then freeze in popsicle molds or paper cups with a stick. You can add extra water and stevia or raw honey to sweeten. They are hard to resist.

Make sure that any juices you give have no added sugar to them or high fructose corn syrup. Fresh juices are always best.

Activated charcoal capsules helps absorb and remove toxins and other irritants in the digestive tract. It helps binds toxins and expel gas. We have used this remedy successfully during bouts of stomach flu. Which ever end it comes back out, it will not look pretty as a result of the black charcoal. But it is effective.

Essential oils from Scentsations that are particularly good to use are: peppermint, ginger, and our synergy called Tummy Rub - these address the symptoms. You may also want to use Oregano, our synergies Fortify or Spice Traders to boost the immune system. They call all be applied topically which is nice when your throwing up everything you put in. They can be applied over the abdominal area, the bottom of the feet, the wrists, the back of the neck or along the spine. Apply 2 times daily or use the peppermint, ginger, or Tummy Rub as needed for symptoms. Peppermint and ginger can be used internally are refreshing in a glass of water to sip. Just 1 drop goes a long way. Oregano can be used internally and is a great remedy for stomach flu. You can put it in capsules - it only takes 2 to 3 drops at a time - to swallow as it is a hot oil. Another trick we use is to put the drops on a small piece of bread and fold it up like a capsule and swallow away. Do not take oregano for more than 2 weeks in a row - after that give the body a break.

*Please use caution when starting to use essential oils for the first time. See what your body will do. Start slow and use 1 at a time. They are wonderful remedies, but you always want to see what your body will do. I blend my essential oils to use most of the time especially for use on children. A little goes a long way.

My friend from Germany taught me a great remedy for nausea that can stop it in its tracks and it worked on my son so fast I couldn't believe it - Black Tea. And it doesn't take much. Another person recommended black tea with a slice of ginger and honey.

Other herbal teas that can be soothing are: rooibos, peppermint, chamomile, peppermint with chamomile, peppermint with a slice of fresh ginger, or fennel and catnip. Sweeten with honey - I think raw local honey is the best.

Herbal remedies can be soothing and effective. Kid-e-Col or Stomach Comfort which are both catnip and fennel. Slippery Elm Bark in powdered form can be stirred into applesauce or water and helps to sooth, it can also be taken in capsule form. Aloe Vera Juice can also be an effective remedy.

Good probiotics can help by replenishing the good bacteria in the system. You can eat yogurt (plan and add your own fruit and healthy sweetening) or kefir. But studies show that capsules may be more effective at replacing the good bacteria.

There are many homeopathic remedies as well. With homeopathics choose a remedy that matches your symptoms. We like the Nova brand homeopathics and use the Flu or the Diarrhea remedy depending on the symptoms.

Colloidal Silver has been used for decades as a natural antibiotic and it is also antiviral.

I keep in my little herbal first aid kit just in case of stomach flu symptoms: a few charcoal capsules in a small container, a small bottle of oregano essential oil, and a small bottle of peppermint essential oil. The essential oils can be used for many things. But that way I have some powerful solutions right at my finger tips or on trips. I even send charcoal capsules with kids when they go off to camps.

You don't have to try all the remedies listed. I just listed some of my favorites. And there are many more remedies out there. You'll find what works best for you. Also remember that one of the reasons the stomach flu spreads so quickly is due to poor hand washing. We think good old fashion soap and water works the best. The reason many people in the same family get it, is because they ate the same food that was contaminated. When 1 person gets sick, you can begin using some of the remedies to help stop the spread or to get a jump start in the system.

Kally

All the products listed can be purchased at Indigo Mountain locally, delivered through mail from Indigo Mountain or purchased from your local health food store.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice or help. It is always best to consult with a physician about serious health concerns or before beginning and exercise program. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies. This is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only.

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